feature-manifest

name	feature-manifest
description	Manage feature manifests for code traceability — create features, validate manifest health, map features to code, update changelogs. Activates for 'feature manifest', 'feature tracking', 'code traceability'. NOT for project management, issue tracking, or git workflow.
allowed-tools	Read,Write,Edit,Bash(npm:*,npx:*)
metadata	{"category":"Productivity & Meta","tags":["feature-management","code-traceability","documentation"],"pairs-with":[{"skill":"git-workflow-expert","reason":"Feature branches map to manifest entries for tracking code-to-feature traceability"},{"skill":"technical-writer","reason":"Feature manifest documentation feeds into changelogs and release notes"},{"skill":"launch-readiness-auditor","reason":"Feature manifests provide the checklist for launch readiness feature completeness"}]}

Feature Manifest Management

This skill helps you work with the feature manifest system that tracks the relationship between features and their implementations.

When to Use This Skill

• Creating a new feature
• Modifying existing feature code
• Checking which feature owns a file
• Validating manifest accuracy
• Updating changelogs
• Running feature health checks

Quick Commands

# List all features
npm run feature:info -- --list

# Get details about a feature
npm run feature:info -- <feature-id>

# Find which feature owns a file
npm run feature:info -- --files <filepath>

# Validate all manifests
npm run feature:validate

# Check feature health (staleness, orphans, coverage)
npm run feature:health

# Create a new feature manifest
npm run feature:create

Workflow: Creating a New Feature

1. Create the manifest first:

   npm run feature:create -- --id=my-feature --name="My Feature"
   

2. Implement the feature, adding files as you go

3. Update the manifest with:

   • All implementation files in implementation.files
   • Tests in tests.unit/integration/e2e
   • Dependencies in dependencies.internal/external
   • Environment variables in dependencies.env_vars

4. Validate before committing:

   npm run feature:validate
   

Workflow: Modifying an Existing Feature

1. Read the manifest first:

   npm run feature:info -- <feature-id>
   

2. Make your changes to the implementation files

3. Update the manifest:

   • Add new files to implementation.files
   • Update history.last_modified to today's date
   • Add a changelog entry

4. Validate:

   npm run feature:validate
   

Manifest Structure

id: feature-id
name: Human Readable Name
status: complete  # planned | in-progress | complete | deprecated
priority: P1

description: |
  What this feature does and why it exists.

implementation:
  files:
    - src/app/api/feature/route.ts
    - src/lib/feature.ts
  entry_point: src/lib/feature.ts
  database_tables:
    - tableName
  api_routes:
    - POST /api/feature

tests:
  unit:
    - src/lib/__tests__/feature.test.ts
  integration: []
  e2e: []

dependencies:
  internal:
    - features/authentication.yaml
  external:
    - package-name
  env_vars:
    - FEATURE_SECRET
  secrets:
    - feature-api-key

history:
  created: "2024-12-01"
  last_modified: "2024-12-23"

changelog:
  -  
     
    
       

Health Report Interpretation

When running npm run feature:health:

• Healthy Features: Manifest matches code, tests exist
• Stale Features: Manifest not updated in 90+ days, or code changed after manifest
• Without Tests: Complete features that have no tests listed
• Orphaned Files: Files in src/ not tracked by any manifest
• Suggested Manifests: New directories that should have manifests

Best Practices

1. One feature per manifest - Keep them focused
2. Update on every change - Don't let manifests go stale
3. Changelog is append-only - Never modify old entries
4. Include all files - Don't leave orphaned files
5. Link dependencies - Show which features depend on others